Harley Quinn and the Joker

[ericadawn16]

I admit, I don't have as much DC experience compared with Marvel. I watched Batman: the Animated series but I only remember that Harley Quinn was weird.

Now everyone seems to hold up Harley Quinn and the Joker as one of these awesome couples of all time. Everything I've seen of the Joker, apart from the recent video game ending, makes him appear to be a psychopath.

To me, my assumption about Harley Quinn and the Joker would be a one-sided romance where she's putting way more into it than getting back. On paper, it sounds way worse than the typical Beauty and the Beast tale that everyone complains spreads archaic, dangerous ideas about relationships.

I know Harley Quinn can hold her own but still...am I wrong? Is this an awesome, healthy relationship that I should get on board with?

Comments

[m-danson.livejournal.com]

I don't read the comics or watch the animation, but I have seen some wonderful comic book clips involving Quinn herself as a character interacting with other female characters. Every clip and the interview with creators I've seen about her and Joker point out that the relationship is abusive (Joker towards Quinn) and was intended to be that way. From what I've gleaned from here and there, she is intended to be an abuse survivor in the comics. I'm not the best source for this, but that's what I've come away with.

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

I'm not well versed in DC Comics either, but I have heard that Harley Quinn can definitely hold her own and that her relationship with the Joker is definitely abusive and just messed up.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Harley is great on her own.

And horrible when she's with the Joker, because she falls into the abused girlfriend role and he's a horrible psychopathic arsehole.

So I imagine a lot of people think it's TERRIBLY ROMANTIC AND TWUE WUV!

[dacian-goddess.livejournal.com]

I could be wrong, but I think, for sheer monstrosity, the Joker is probably *the worst* of the Batman villains. Legitimate and unapologetic psychopath in the most horrendous ways.

Harley Quinn, as far as I recall her backstory, was a psychiatrist who got...corrupted past the brink, let's call it, by the Arkham rogues and/or the Joker himself. (I'm fuzzy but I think it was him.) She's a toy to take apart and put back together, essentially — the ship can't exist if it isn't horrifyingly abusive and awful.

I am surprised it's so purportedly popular, though; last I paid any attention to Harley, people were hardcore shipping her with Ivy...

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Have to admit, I don't even know who Harley Quinn is. :p
Hugs, Jon

[dragonacesg7.livejournal.com]

I watched the animated series but since she STARTED there I can give you what I know.

In the series Harley was a psychologist (I believe) she wanted to write a book on the Joker. Joker being charming and a genius gradually manipulated her to fall in love with him and help him escape.

While it's not as violent as I've heard it gets in the comics, it's clear that Joker is an abuser. He used his intellect to create himself as sympathetic to Harley. We aren't given a lot of details so no idea if any of the stories he told were true or even just spun a way to make her sympathize.

She cried during a session, he started sending her flowers (somehow? Arkham and it's crap security).

In an episode, Harley takes it upon herself to fix a "joke" that the Joker, Mr. J as she calls him, devised to kill Batman.

And it's working. She gets Batman caught but when she calls Mr. J. to come see her work she has to explain how she made it funny. Ever seen the clip "if you have to explain a joke, there is no joke!" where the Joker rips up the plans.

I think he shoves her out a window before freeing Batman, apologizing for Harley not getting it, Batman tells the Joker that Harley's plan would have worked.

I don't know when Harley was introduced in the comics and I don't know a ton of her status since the New 52 but from what I've read, Joker is even MORE violent towards her.

I have NO idea, other than a Hot Topic ad about "crazy love" where this idea of them being the most romantic couple is suddenly coming from.

Though given what's popular these days I can't say I'm terribly surprised.

Edited to add this link with a brief blurb on who Harley is
http://queen-the-arrow.tumblr.com/post/118412266407/maplejustice-harley-quinn-is-a-woman-who

[m-danson.livejournal.com]

And right on cue… a Harley Quinn comic pops up on Tumblr referencing her (past) abusive relationship with the Joker.

http://ursulavernon.tumblr.com/post/118411153298/giraffepoliceforce-this-is-harley-quinn-herself

[meowbooks.livejournal.com]

I can only speak for animated series/JL/JLU AKA the original Harley. She can definitely hold her own, but her relationship with the Joker is abusive. It's like Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovette only I'd say the Joker is worse. In the original show, she was his doctor at Arkham and he basically manipulated her and turned her so he could escape. Even if he does love her it's definitely on the not the kind of relationship anyone should aspire to spectrum. I'd argue she's at her best away from him.